Key Takeaways
- In 2022, South Korea's logistics market size reached 278.4 trillion KRW, accounting for 14.5% of national GDP with a 3.8% year-over-year growth driven by e-commerce surge.
- The logistics industry's contribution to South Korea's GDP grew from 13.8% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2022, fueled by post-pandemic recovery and export volumes.
- South Korea's domestic logistics expenditure hit 192 trillion KRW in 2021, with international logistics adding 86 trillion KRW.
- Busan New Port expansion covers 30.8 square kilometers with 21 berths handling 7.8 million TEU annually as of 2023.
- Total length of South Korea's national highways dedicated to logistics reached 4,800 km by end of 2022.
- Incheon International Airport's cargo terminal capacity stands at 3 million tons per year post-2023 expansion.
- In 2023, maritime freight volume in Korea totaled 1.28 billion tons, with containers at 30.5 million TEU.
- Road freight transport carried 78% of domestic cargo volume, amounting to 4.2 billion tons in 2022.
- Air cargo throughput at Korean airports reached 4.1 million tons in 2023.
- Logistics automation adoption rate reached 65% in warehouses by 2023.
- AI-based route optimization used by 72% of Korean trucking firms in 2023.
- Blockchain pilots for supply chain tracking implemented in 150 firms in 2022.
- South Korea's logistics workforce totals 3.2 million employees as of 2023.
- Average annual wage for logistics drivers increased to 45 million KRW in 2022.
- Female participation in logistics sector rose to 28% in 2023 from 22% in 2019.
Korea's logistics industry is rapidly growing and modernizing, driven especially by e-commerce and digital innovation.
Freight Transportation Modes
- In 2023, maritime freight volume in Korea totaled 1.28 billion tons, with containers at 30.5 million TEU.
- Road freight transport carried 78% of domestic cargo volume, amounting to 4.2 billion tons in 2022.
- Air cargo throughput at Korean airports reached 4.1 million tons in 2023.
- Rail freight volume grew 5.2% to 72 million tons in 2022.
- Container ship calls at Busan Port numbered 25,000 in 2023, handling 22.8 million TEU.
- Trucking fleet size for logistics stands at 450,000 vehicles in 2023.
- Inland water transport handled 18 million tons of cargo in 2022.
- Export container volume via sea freight was 17.2 million TEU in 2023.
- Average road freight distance traveled 250 km per trip in 2022.
- Air express parcels shipped 1.2 billion pieces domestically in 2023.
- Bulk cargo maritime transport reached 1.05 billion tons in 2022.
- Rail container transport volume hit 1.8 million TEU in 2023.
- Heavy goods vehicles (over 12 tons) transported 2.8 billion ton-km in 2022.
- International air freight exports totaled 2.9 million tons in 2023.
- Parcel delivery volume via road reached 5.2 billion items in 2022.
- LNG carrier shipments from Korea ports numbered 4,500 in 2023.
- Multi-modal freight integration handled 500 million ton-km in 2022.
- Domestic air cargo volume was 1.2 million tons in 2023.
- Tanker freight volume for chemicals stood at 120 million tons in 2022.
- E-commerce parcel road transport 4.1 billion units in 2023.
- Coal import via sea freight totaled 120 million tons in 2022.
- High-speed freight rail services carried 10 million tons in 2023.
- Automobile Ro-Ro shipping exports 3.5 million vehicles in 2022.
- Drone delivery freight trials covered 50,000 flights in 2023.
- Pipeline freight for oil products 45 million tons in 2022.
- Incheon Airport cargo aircraft movements 120,000 in 2023.
Freight Transportation Modes Interpretation
Infrastructure Development
- Busan New Port expansion covers 30.8 square kilometers with 21 berths handling 7.8 million TEU annually as of 2023.
- Total length of South Korea's national highways dedicated to logistics reached 4,800 km by end of 2022.
- Incheon International Airport's cargo terminal capacity stands at 3 million tons per year post-2023 expansion.
- Gimpo Airport handles 500,000 tons of cargo annually with new logistics zones in 2023.
- Korea's inland container depots (ICDs) number 45 facilities with combined capacity of 2.5 million TEU in 2022.
- Gwangyang Port features 27 berths and annual throughput of 22 million tons of bulk cargo in 2023.
- Total warehousing space in South Korea expanded to 120 million square meters by 2023.
- High-speed rail network for freight covers 500 km with plans for 1,000 km by 2030.
- Smart logistics centers numbered 150 across Korea in 2023, up from 80 in 2020.
- Ulsan New Port has 16 berths capable of handling 20 million tons annually as of 2022.
- Dedicated logistics roads in industrial complexes total 2,200 km in 2023.
- Container freight stations (CFS) capacity reached 1.2 million TEU nationwide in 2022.
- Yeosu Port's LNG terminal handles 1,000 ships yearly with 10 million ton capacity.
- Bonded logistics zones expanded to 50 sites covering 5 million sqm in 2023.
- Automated container terminals at Busan Port process 1,000 TEU per crane per hour.
- National logistics data platform connects 500 facilities as of 2023.
- Pohang Port steel logistics infrastructure supports 50 million tons yearly.
- Cold storage facilities total 3.5 million cubic meters in 2022.
- Expressway service areas with logistics hubs number 120 in 2023.
- Rail container terminals operate at 25 locations handling 1.5 million TEU annually.
- Incheon Port's smart pier handles 2.5 million TEU with AI cranes.
- Logistics drone testing zones established at 10 airports in 2023.
- Free trade zone warehouses cover 2 million sqm in Gyeonggi province alone.
- Masan Port bulk cargo berths increased to 12 with 15 million ton capacity.
- Total pipeline network for logistics spans 5,000 km for petroleum products.
- Air cargo cold chain facilities at 15 major airports total 200,000 sqm.
- Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone logistics parks span 10 sq km.
Infrastructure Development Interpretation
Logistics Technology and Innovation
- Logistics automation adoption rate reached 65% in warehouses by 2023.
- AI-based route optimization used by 72% of Korean trucking firms in 2023.
- Blockchain pilots for supply chain tracking implemented in 150 firms in 2022.
- IoT sensors deployed in 80% of cold chain logistics vehicles by 2023.
- Big data analytics platforms adopted by 55% of 3PL providers in 2022.
- Autonomous trucking tests covered 10,000 km on highways in 2023.
- 5G-enabled smart ports operational at 5 major facilities in 2023.
- Robotics in warehousing: 45,000 units installed nationwide by 2022.
- Digital twin technology for logistics planning used in 30% of large firms.
- Cloud-based TMS (Transport Management Systems) penetration at 68% in 2023.
- Drone logistics delivery hubs established at 20 locations in 2023.
- RFID tracking implemented in 90% of semiconductor logistics chains.
- Predictive maintenance AI reduced downtime by 25% in fleets per 2022 study.
- VR training for logistics workers adopted by 40% of companies in 2023.
- Edge computing for real-time tracking in 35% of port operations.
- WMS (Warehouse Management System) software market grew 12% to 1.2 trillion KRW.
- Machine learning for demand forecasting accuracy improved to 92% in top firms.
- Quantum computing pilots for optimization in 5 logistics majors in 2023.
- AR glasses for picking in warehouses used by 25% workforce in 2022.
- Cyber-physical systems integrated in 50 smart factories' logistics.
- Low-code platforms for custom logistics apps developed by 60 SMEs.
- Satellite tracking for ocean freight adopted by 85% carriers.
- RPA (Robotic Process Automation) automated 70% of invoicing in 3PLs.
- Hyperloop freight concept tested for 50 km routes in 2023.
- NFT-based digital bills of lading trialed in 10 ports.
- 6G R&D for logistics connectivity funded at 500 billion KRW.
Logistics Technology and Innovation Interpretation
Market Size and Economic Impact
- In 2022, South Korea's logistics market size reached 278.4 trillion KRW, accounting for 14.5% of national GDP with a 3.8% year-over-year growth driven by e-commerce surge.
- The logistics industry's contribution to South Korea's GDP grew from 13.8% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2022, fueled by post-pandemic recovery and export volumes.
- South Korea's domestic logistics expenditure hit 192 trillion KRW in 2021, with international logistics adding 86 trillion KRW.
- Projected CAGR for Korean logistics market is 4.2% from 2023 to 2028, reaching 350 trillion KRW by 2028 due to digital transformation.
- In 2023, third-party logistics (3PL) segment in Korea generated 45.6 trillion KRW, up 5.1% from previous year.
- E-commerce logistics market in South Korea expanded to 25 trillion KRW in 2022, comprising 9% of total logistics spend.
- Warehousing and storage sector within logistics valued at 32.7 trillion KRW in 2021, growing at 4% annually.
- Freight forwarding services in Korea reached 18.9 trillion KRW revenue in 2022.
- Logistics costs as percentage of GDP in South Korea stood at 8.7% in 2022, lower than regional average of 12%.
- Total logistics revenue from manufacturing sector integration hit 120 trillion KRW in 2023 Q1-Q3.
- Cold chain logistics market in Korea valued at 7.2 trillion KRW in 2022, with 6.5% CAGR projected.
- Reverse logistics market size estimated at 15.4 trillion KRW in 2023, driven by returns from online shopping.
- Multimodal logistics operations generated 22.1 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Logistics IT services market reached 4.8 trillion KRW in 2023.
- Express delivery parcel volume contributed 28 trillion KRW to logistics economy in 2022.
- Supply chain management consulting in logistics hit 2.3 trillion KRW revenue in 2021.
- Automotive logistics sector valued at 19.5 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Semiconductor logistics market size was 12.7 trillion KRW in 2023.
- Food and beverage logistics generated 35.2 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Fashion and apparel logistics market reached 8.9 trillion KRW in 2023.
- Healthcare logistics including pharmaceuticals valued at 6.4 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Chemical products logistics sector hit 14.1 trillion KRW in 2021.
- Electronics logistics excluding semiconductors was 21.3 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Construction materials logistics market size 16.8 trillion KRW in 2023.
- Energy sector logistics valued at 9.7 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Total B2B logistics transactions via platforms reached 50 trillion KRW in 2023.
- B2C logistics market expanded to 40 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Cross-border e-commerce logistics hit 11.2 trillion KRW in 2023.
- Logistics park development investments totaled 5.6 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Insurance premiums for logistics risks amounted to 1.8 trillion KRW in 2023.
Market Size and Economic Impact Interpretation
Workforce and Sustainability
- South Korea's logistics workforce totals 3.2 million employees as of 2023.
- Average annual wage for logistics drivers increased to 45 million KRW in 2022.
- Female participation in logistics sector rose to 28% in 2023 from 22% in 2019.
- Training programs certified 150,000 logistics workers in digital skills by 2023.
- Labor shortage in trucking estimated at 50,000 drivers in 2022.
- CO2 emissions from logistics reduced by 15% since 2018 via green initiatives.
- Renewable energy usage in warehouses reached 25% by 2023.
- Electric vehicle adoption in delivery fleets at 18% in major cities.
- Recycling rate of logistics packaging materials hit 82% in 2022.
- Overtime hours in logistics averaged 220 per year per worker in 2023.
- Union membership in logistics firms 35% as of 2022.
- Safety training completion rate 95% for forklift operators.
- Carbon-neutral logistics roadmap targets 40% emission cut by 2030.
- Hydrogen fuel cell trucks deployed: 500 units in 2023.
- Biodiversity protection in port areas covered 1,000 hectares.
- Foreign worker visas for logistics issued: 120,000 in 2022.
- ESG compliance score average 75/100 for top 50 logistics firms.
- Water usage reduction in logistics facilities by 20% via recycling.
- Elderly workforce (over 60) in logistics 15% in 2023.
- Zero-emission warehouses numbered 200 by end of 2022.
- Accident rate per 1,000 workers dropped to 2.1 in 2023.
Workforce and Sustainability Interpretation
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